Orus paradisea. 25 



[I have given on p. 22 a reduced drawing of Yarrell's figure of the 

 trachea and sternum of G. paradisea, in the " Linnean Transactions," to 

 illustrate the above passages. — W. B. T.] 



This superb crane is pecilliar to South Africa. According to Mr. Layard 

 ("Birds of South Africa," p. 303), 



The " Stanley " or " blue " crane is not abundant in any locality, but seems very 

 generally distributed. I fancy that certain pairs frequent the same district for the 

 whole term of their lives," and may always be found within a certain radius. I saw it 

 thus continually at Kel's Point, and at the Knysna. It is wary and difficult to approach 

 within gunshot, but may always be obtained with a rifle. It goes in pairs,ithe female beins; 

 considerably the smaller; when in conflnement it becomes very tame, and feeds readily 

 from the hand, eating bread, fruit, vegetables, &o. Its harsh, rattling, guttural cry 

 may be heard at an immense distance. In a state of nature it feeds on flsh, reptiles, 

 locusts, and small mammalia, and is often found inhabiting the Karoo country at a great 

 distance from water. Mr. Arnot has forwarded eggs from Colesberg, and informs me 

 that it breeds in that neighbourhood in some abundance. The eggs resemble those of 

 O. carwnculata in every particular. 



Mr. Ayres, writing from the Trans- Vaal, states {Ibis, 1871, p. 270) : 



These cranes are not at all uncommon in this country. In the summer months they 

 are generally seen in pairs, stalking about the open flats in search of insects ; in winter 

 they congregate in certain localities and live socially together. One of these spots is 

 the Movi river, about ten miles above its junction with the Vaal river, and another is 

 on the banks of the Vaal River, about twenty miles below Bloemhoflf. These birds 

 feed on seeds and roots (bulbs) as well as on insects, and their flesh is not at all bad 

 eating ; slices from the breast fried with butter are scarcely to be distinguished in 

 taste from excellent beef. Sometimes these cranes rise to an immense height in the 

 air, uttering their peculiar loud guttural note. When on the ground they frequently 

 amuse themselves by dancing round each other with wings extended, bowing and 

 scraping to each other in a most absurd manner, not a little curious to see. 



A familiar spectacle, however, with any species of crane in zoological 

 establishments where the birds are not too much cramped for space. Mr. 

 Andersson records that 



This very graceful crane is not uncommon in Damara and Great Namaqua Land 

 during the rainy season, but migrates on the return of the dry. It is found in the open 

 country, as well as in the moist beds of periodical streams, and always in pairs. It is 

 rather a timid bird, and is rarely to be obtained except by the rifle. The stomachs of 

 the few individuals which I have opened contained nothing but insects and a large 

 quantity of gravel. (" Birds of Damara Land," &c., p. 279.) 



In the Ibis for 1869 Mr. Layard quotes his correspondent Mr. Ortlepp, 

 who writes of the present species, that "their principal food consists of 

 small bulbs ; when they have the chance they pass the night sleeping in the 

 water knee- deep, and in the winter months are frequently found with their 

 legs frozen fast in the ice." They should accordingly be tolerably hardy 

 and endurant of cold — indeed, more so than seems generally to be the case 

 with them in European vivaria. 



